Clemons Describes Police Beating

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Missouri death row inmate Reginald Clemons says police detectives beat him so badly he admitted to raping two sisters who were pushed to their deaths from a Mississippi River bridge.

The 41-year-old Clemons testified Wednesday in a special hearing on his case in St. Louis that he confessed because he feared for his life. He has been on Missouri’s death row for nearly 20 years for the rape and murder of 20-year-old Julie Kerry and 19-year-old Robin Kerry.

After the hearing, the Missouri Supreme Court will decide whether to commute Clemons’ death sentence and possibly declare a new trial.

Assistant Attorney General Sue Boresi questioned Clemons about the crime after playing the chilling audiotape confession. Clemons is meeting with his attorneys to decide whether to answer questions about the crime.